Method of making vehicle-wheels.



Patented'sept- 5; 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET A. M. STANLEY.

METHOD OF MAK|NG VEH|GLE WHEELS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 6. 1915. RENEWED JAN. 1.191s.

1,196,894. 4 PatentedS 5,1916.

- 2 SHEETS- EET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

ARTHUR M. STANLEY, 0F LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO WARREN K.

' BLODGETT, 0F CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

METHOD OF MAKING VEHICLE-WHEELS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

Application filed May 6, 1915, Serial No. 26,226. Renewed January 7, 1916. Serial No. 70,889.

To all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, Airrrrm: M. STANLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Making Vehicle-Wheels; and I do hereby declare the following to be full, clear, and

exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to a method of making metal vehicle wheels and more particularly to a method of making metal wheels in which the several component parts of the wheel are welded together to form an integral structure.

The object of the invention is to provide an ii'nproved method of making Inetahwheels oi? this character which may be practised cheaply to produce a finished wheel of minimum weight and of therequired strength.

In the drawings illustrating the several steps in the method; Figure l is a side elevation of the completed wheel with a tire applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a view of one of the rim. sections bent into circular shape preparatory to being butt welded; Fig. 3 a view showing a cross section of a rim section taken upon the line 3--8 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a view showing a cross section of the completed rim formed by two rim sections; Fig. 5 is a view showing a cross section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 and illustrating the method of securing the rim sections and spokes together; Fig. 6 is a detail showing a side elevation of the rim with the end of a spoke secured therein; Fig. 7 is a view showing a section upon the line 77 of Fig. 1, and illustrating the method of forming the hub and securing the spokes thereto; Fig. 8 is a view illustrating the method of Welding the flanges to one another and to the end of the spoke; Fig. 9 is a view simi v lar to Fig. 8, illustrating the manner in -which the welded. area extends through the.

flanges and. flattened end of the spoke; and

Fig. 10 is an elevation of the completed wheel showing the manner in which aiternate spokesare secured to opposite ends of the hub.

In the prefe d method as shown in the the first forrd.

which the several parts are assembled in successive stages to gradually build up the completed wheel.

The rim portion of the wheel is preferably built up of two pieces 3 each consisting of a steel ring of L-shaped cross section. Each ring isformed by bending a straight angle iron into a substantially circular shape, as shown in Fig. 2, and butt welding the adjacent faces of the ring to form an int5 tegral. L-shaped ring. In addition, each ring isprovided with a curved flange 4 to receive .the bead of a clencher tire, and this operation may conveniently be performed by drawing out the flange with suitable dies. The flanges 5 of the rings are also provided with. a series'of depressions 7 which co'operate with one another when the rim is as-. sembled to form pockets for recelvmg' the 'ends of the spokes. The pockets are preferably formed with comparatively narrow. or flat end portions 9 for the reception of the flattened ends of the spokes and with rounded or cylindrical mouth portions 10 for the reception of a short length of the round shanks of the spokes. The shoulders 12 which are thereby formed on the sides of the pockets at the junction of the flat and. cylindrical portions serve to positively lock the flattened ends of the spokes in the pockets when the rim and spokes are secured together. To rovide for the reception of the valve stem 1n the flanges semi-cylindrical recesses 13 are pressed in the flanges, as

shown clearly in Fig. 1. 1

ceived in pockets formed in the flanges of the hub and rim, as shown clearly inthe drawing. I i

The huhportion of the wheel indicated at 17 comprises a'centralharrel portion 18 and cooperating end pieces 19. The central bar 10c rel consists of two pressed steel rings 20 having outwardly extending radial flanges 21 and tubular shank portions 22 which are butt welded at 23 to form the completed barrel 18 Each of the flan cs 21 has a series of depressions 25 formed t erein similar to,

the'depressions upon the rim flanges. Each end piece 19 consists of a pressed steel ring having an outwardly extending flange 26 provided with depressions 28 to cooperate 11o c or tho rocoptf iiinhoui the 1 3c 3 4 5111c bar- 7 L i En viii-'3 J i o am; pieca 5 7', thus pron icing the honrlngs 1' 111 an ins pcc ion soon 1 iioi's Within the 1 s l :Dgcs of the hub so degn'cssiij I arm ng; if one another hilt) i 1 1 opposite ends the spoken to ho )ositc onis of bile rions inponcnfi nner flattened onois wheel the 1 59:; am: inserted bocwcen the io'hob which are ass en? in mi (ion to one anoihorQ arc than welder to one oinothor and. spoiccs b of the flanges aiici the spokes, as siown mo drawings, This op- 1 COKv'QHiBTliZiV roriorinc by pro a pair of 37 disposed Wciciir. odes- ;iich on gagc with opp sides of die flanges with sniiiciont pressure n form an inicgrai joint between itzo flanges and mid of i ho spoke after the moi-a1 has 'iontly flow, I flowing A the inoiai is oansci by passing an oicci ic current for a prorictcrinincii tho portions to he n: chi-root of 1.611

"1 wine Moria iang N 1 i w roccuoii A nor'L-ion of I'M vl- J1. 7 n poreion an anion tne ionno min: for fiaitcnod mid-1s rcin- Hons of the I sluU.

V rnii v" in. the flanges.

G have been assointho L o rim sec in the outer cntis of iorinod ivy 810115; and. z wormed ii chiod regions extending in; rho 'Wcidcd areas are located between ends of the spokes and in close proximto tho base of the flax 'c, thus effectually Securing the no sections of the rim iogcther a d proventing any tendency to spread the apari; due to the pressure of air Within onniatic giro which is applied to the run.

The invention having -been described, What is ciaimoci. is

1. A. method of making nictal Wheels which comprises forming a rim portion in two parts oach having an annular flange with rccossos pressed thoreiin assembling the two rim portions ind spokes with the ends the spokes rcceivcci in pockets formed by opposing recesses, and Welding the ends of the, spokes and rim portions together wcidcd areas extending through the flanges and ends; of the spokes.

2. A mcihod of making nictai Wheels which comprises forming a rini portion in two parts each having an annu iar fiango with recesses pressed therein, forming a spoke with a flattened 0ndassembling the two rim portions and spokes with the flattened ends of the spokes received in the pockets formed by opposing recesses, and welding the flattened ends of the spokes and rim portions together.

3 A method of making metal Wheels wvhich comprises forming a rim portion in two parts each having an annular flange urn pressed thcrein to form. narassoinhi 1;: one rim portions and spokes with tho flattened ends: of the spokes received in die narrow fiat pockets, and weidingtiio cnas of the spokesand riin portions .logcithor by welded areas extending through tho flanges and flattened ends of the spokes.

i. A method of making a met-a1 Wheel which comprises forming a rim portion in mo parts each having an annular flange with pressed therein to form pockocs when inc two parts are assembled ham ing narrow end portions and round mirth. poi-shins, assoinbiinf; the rim portions zinci tubniarr pokes having flattened ends: with the fiot'L-enofi cnais of he spokes from an inspection of the drawings pockets, and short lengths of the tubular shanks received and supported in the round mouth portions of the pockets, and welding the ends of the spokes and rim portions together by Welded areas extending through the flattened ends of the spokes and metal of the pocket walls.

5. A method of making. a metal wheel which comprises bending a bar of angle metal into circular shape and butt welding the ends to form a ring of L-shaped cross section, pressing recesses in the flange of the ring, and welding the ends of spokes to the flange by welded areas extending through the recessed portions of the flanges and the ends of the spokes.

6. A method'of making a metal wheel which comprises, forming a rim portion in two parts each having an annular flange with recesses pressed therein, assembling the rim portions and spokes with the ends of'the spokes received in pockets ormed by opposing recesses, Welding the e ds of the spokes and rim portions to ther by welded areas extending through t e recessed portions of the flanges and ends of the spokes, and welded areas extending through the flanges between the ends of the spokes and in close proximity to the base of the flanges. 7. A method of making a metal wheel which comprises forminga hub portion in a plurality of parts each having an annular flange with recesses pressed therein to form pockets When the hub is assembled, assembling the hub and spokes with the ends of the spokes received in pockets formed by the opposing recesses, and welding the ends of the spokes and parts of'the hub together by Welded areas extending through the recessed portions of the flanges and ends of the spokes.

8. A method of making a metal wheel Which comprises forming a central barrel with oppositely disposed annular flanges having recesses pressed therein, forming end pieces with annular flanges having recesses pressed therein, assembling the central barrel and end pieces with the spokes having their ends received in pockets formed by the opposing recesses, and welding the spokes to the barrel and end pieces by welded areas extending through the recessed portions of the flanges and ends of the spokes.

9. A method of making a metal wheel which comprises forming a hub portion in a plurality of parts each having an annular flange with recesses pressed therein, forming a rim portion in a plurality of parts each having'an annular flange with recesses pressed therein, assembling the parts of the hub and spokes with the ends of the spokes received in pockets formed by the opposing recesses, welding the ends of the spokes and parts of the hub together, assembling the parts of the rim with the spokes having their outer ends received in the pockets formed by opposing recesses, and welding the outer ends of the spokes and parts of the rim together.

10. A method of making a, metal Wheel which comprises forming a central barrel with oppositely disposed annular flanges having recesses pressed therein, the recesses formed in one flange being ofi'sct with relation to the recesses formed in the opposite flange, fonning end pieces each provided with an annular flange having recesses pressed therein, assembling the several parts 0' the hub With the ends of spokes received in the pockets formed by the opposing recesses, and welding the ends of the spokes and parts of the hub together.

11. A method of making a metal wheel which comprises forming two members provided with cooperating annular flanges having recesses pressed therein, .l'orming spokes with flattened ends, assembling the two members with the flanges contacting with one another and with the flattened ends of the spokes received in pockets formed by opposing recesses, and Welding the members and spokes together by welded areas extending through the recessed portions of the flanges and flattened ends of the spokes.

ARTHUR M. STAN LEY, 

